Apparatus for forming and finishing ceramic ware foot

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for forming and finishing ceramic ware foot the operations of which are carried out while high speed rotating spindles are intermittently driven. The apparatus comprises a vertically movable pressing head which is engageable with a work piece and a vertically movable work-piece supporter. The centering and fixing of the work piece is carried out by the cooperation of the pressing head and the supporter. In operation, when the spindles are intermittently rotated a cutting of ceramic ware foot, a rough cutting of rim, roller finishing and damp finishing of said foot and said rim are simultaneously carried out at a plurality of operating stations.

United States Patent Dec. 11, 1973 Takahashi APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND FINISHING CERAMIC WARE FOOT Koji Takahashi, Nagoya, Japan Nippon Toki Kabushiki Kaisha, Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken, Japan Filed: Dec. 20, 1971 Appl. No.: 209,643

Inventor:

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 21, 1970 Japan 45/114926 U.S. Cl 425/264, 425/265, 425/266,

425/268 Int. Cl B28b 1/02, 1328b 1/29 Field of Search 425/263-268, 459

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Elliott 425/459 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 11,048 0/1915 Great Britain 425/267 Primary Examiner- Robert D. Baldwin Attorney-Richard K. Stevens et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for forming and finishing ceramic ware foot the operations of which are carried out while high speed rotating spindles are intermittently driven. The apparatus comprises a vertically movable pressing head which is engageable with a work piece and a vertically movable work-piece supporter. The centering and fixing of the work piece is carried out by the cooperation of the pressing head and the supporter. In operation, when the spindles are intermittently rotated a cutting of ceramic ware foot, a rough cutting of rim, roller finishing and damp finishing of said foot and said rim are simultaneously carried out at a plurality of operating stations.

12 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENIED DEC] 1 I973 SHEEI t [1F 4 FIG.6I

IFIG.7

APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND FINISHING CERAMIC WARE FOOT The present invention relates to the finishing of the surface of a piece of ceramic ware (e.g., cup), and more particularly to the finishing of a foot and a rim. Still more particularly, it relates to an apparatus wherein a number of high-speed rotation spindles are provided on a concentric circle on a turntable or they are arranged on a conveyor in a coupled manner, and wherein the turntable or the conveyor is subjected to an intermittent motion by the index table mechanism using, e.g. a barrel cam, the Geneva mechanism, etc., thereby performing operations every pitch of the spindles. The present invention comprises a cupporter which is provided on said each spindle and which has a supporting surface extending substantially along the inner bottom of the cup and the like, an air-tight plate which is provided on the spindle and which consists of a thin and flexible plate (rubber plate), and an air release port which is formed at the central portion of the spindle.

At the first step at every spindle pitch, a support is in cluded. At the second step, one or more foot forming tools and a rim trimming tool are included. Further, at the third step, a roller trimming and finishing device and a damp finishing device for the foot and the rim are included.

Heretofore, the operations of this sort have been carried out by hand, skillfulness has been required, and the stable yield of a quality product has been poor.

The present invention reduces work needed for the operations, and provides excellent and uniform articles of manufacture. It will now be described in detail in conjunction with the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of an apparatus of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a front view of the whole apparatus, FIG. 2 is a plan view, FIG. 3 is a sectional front view of a foot forming station, FIG. 4 is a partially-sectioned front view of a roller finishing station, FIG. 5 is a front view of a fettling station, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are views for explaining a foot forming and rim cutting mechanism.

On a frame 1, there is a turntable 2 which is intermittently moved at a fixed pitch.

A number of spindles 3 rotated at high speed are provided on the turntable 2 at fixed pitches in a manner to be concentrically positioned. On each spindle 3, there is a supporter 4 which extends substantially along the inner bottom of an article, for example, a cup a, and an air-tight plate 5 the periphery of which is in contact with the cup a so as to close the cup a and which is made of a flexible plate, for example, a rubber plate. In addition, an air release port 6 is formed inside the spindle 3.

At position I in FIG. 1, air cylinders 8, 9 and 10 are mounted on a frame 7.

A rod 11 is coupled to the vertical cylinder 8, a rod 12 to the horizontal cylinder 9, and a rod 13 to the vertical cylinder 10.

A press head 14 fitted into the bottom of a foot is coupled to an extreme end of the rod 11, while a support 15 is coupled to the rod 12.

The rod 13 has a mounting plate 16 of the horizontal cylinder 9 coupled thereto, and the rising and falling motion of the horizontal cylinder 9 is effected by the action of the vertical cylinder 10.

The cup a initially mounted (e.g. manually) on the supporter 4 is fed to the position I. The rod 12 of the horizontal cylinder 9 is protruded to insert the support 15 into a portion under the cup a. Subsequently, the rod 13 of the ascent and descent cylinder 10 rises to elevate a base 16 and accordingly the support 15. The support 15 is thus brought into contact with a rim b of the cup a, and supports the cup a horizontally and raises it. As a result the press head 14 and the foot 0 are fitted, and the center of the cup a is brought into coincidence with the axis of the spindle 3. The cup a is held on the supporter 4 in the centered state during the descent of the rods 11 and 13. Subsequently, air is re leased through the air release port 6, the space inside the air-tight plate 5 is maintained under a low pressure (i.e., partial vacuum), the cup a is precisely held and fixed, and the head 14 is raised.

When the operation is completed, the turntable 2 moves by one step, and transfers to position II.

At the position II in FIG. 2, and in FIGS. 3, 6, 7 and 1, a cutting-edge holder arm 29 interlocking with an air cylinder 17 is mounted on a rod 29 of the air cylinder.

On the cutting-edge holder arm 29, there are mounted one or more foot forming tools 18, and a rim trimming tool 19 with piano wires extended into a basket shape or a common cutting edge (not shown). The holder arm and the edges are constructed such that, in mounting the edges, the intervals, angles etc. thereof are adjustable in conformity with the configuration of the foot 0 of the cup a.

The foot forming tools 18 and the edge trimming unit 19 or the rim cutting edge are simultaneously projected through the holder arm 29, and perform the rough cut of the outer periphery of the foot 4: and the rim edge b.

Upon completion of the operation, the turntable 2 further advances by one step, and the front cup a arrives at position III and stops th-ereat.

The cutting at the position II of the previous step of manufacture is the rough one with the cutters, and the cup should be finished. More specifically, in case of the cutting with the foot forming tools 18, a stage d and the like appears on the outer surface of the cup a, and hence, the finishing operation is carried out at the position III.

At the position III in FIG. 1, an arm 20 holding a wire cage roller or metal roller 23 is provided about a fulcrum 28 and at a certain angle to a rod 21.

The roller 23 performs an arcuate motion through the fulcrum 28 under the action of an air cylinder 22.

The wire cage roller or the metal roller on the arm 20 is mounted in dependence upon the purpose. The surface is finished such that when the former is used, the stage d (FIG. 4) is scraped off, and that when the latter is used, the upper surface of the stage d is smoothed by pressed contact of the roller.

Further, a damp finishing belt 24' (FIG. 2) is provided in which sponge is formed into a belt shape, a part of which is immersed into purified water, and which is rotated via a squeeze roller. The damp finishing belt 24 is brought into contact with the foot 0 of the cut a through the fulcrum 30 under the action of an air cylinder 25.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a holder 31 for the damp finishing belt 24 and the air cylinder 25 performs an arcuate motion about a fulcrum 32 by means of an air cylinder 27. Accordingly, the damp finishing belt 24 effects a curved-surface motion in conformity with the cut surface of the foot 0, and finishes the cup a to have a beautiful texture.

The rim edge b is finished by a finishing sponge roller 26 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The sponge roller 26 is alwys immersed in purified water, has humidity controlled by a squeeze roller, and is brought into contact with the rim b of the cup a by an air cylinder 33 (FIG. l) to thereby finish it.

Further, at the next step, the atmospheric air is fed through air release port 6 in contrast to the foregoing step. Thus, the cup a is released from the suction to the supporter 4, and is taken out.

The forming and finishing apparatus is electrically controlled by the sequence control system. The opera tions at the respective operation points are driven mainly through the air cylinders by means of air pressure and small-sized motors. The commands thereof are issued by a stepping controller.

There will be mentioned an example of the operations at the respective operation points. At the position I of the first step, the vertical cylinder 8 for the operation in the vertical direction, and horizontal cylinder 9, and the cylinder 10 for the ascent and descent of the horizontal cylinder 9 are all actuated by compressed air generated from an air compressor. All the actuating commands are issued from the stepping controller. Actuation completing commands are similarly issued.

The interlocking between the air cylinder 8, 9 or M) and the turntable 2 is also commanded by the stepping controller, so that no interference is present between the two. An electrical interlock is adopted between the air cylinder 9 and the turntable 2, thereby preventing any damage therebetween.

Further, the apparatus is designed such that, when the compressed air for actuating the air cylinders becomes below a fixed pressure, the whole apparatus is emergency-stopped by a pressure switch. Troubles due to a mis-actuation of the air cylinder as occurs from insufficient air are thus prevented.

According to the present invention, operations may be effectively and easily carried out with a small occupied area. In particular, cups and the like of green body, white body or biscuit body may be always attached and fixed to determined positions. Thus, the operations after the attachment and fixation become uniform, and the unification of the standard of the manufactured articles, i.e., the precision and uniformity may be held.

Claims for patent:

1. An apparatus for forming and finishing ceramic ware articles, comprising:

an intermittently driven base member;

a plurality of rotatable spindles mounted on said base member at spaced-apart intervals;

a support member mounted on each spindle for supporting an interior surface portion of a workpiece mounted thereon;

a flexible plate mounted on each spindle in cooperation with said support member, said plate engaging the interior surface portion of a mounted workpiece to form an airtight seal therewith;

centering means, including first and second oppositely, axially movable members engaging opposite end portions of a mounted workpiece, for centering said mounted workpiece axially on said support member relative to the axis of rotation of said spindle;

means for reducing the pressure in the interior of a mounted workpiece to create a partial vacuum for holding said workpiece in secure engagement with said support member; and

means for moving a workpiece securely mounted on said support member to a plurality of work stations for forming and finishing said workpiece.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

foot forming means mounted on said apparatus at a first work station for forming a foot portion of said securely mounted workpiece;

rim forming means mounted on said apparatus at said first work station for forming a rim portion of said securely mounted workpiece;

finishing means mounted on said apparatus at a subsequent work station for finishing the formed foot and rim portions of said securely mounted workpiece; and

means for intermittently moving said securely mounted workpiece to and past said first and subsequent work stations.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said spindles are arranged and provided on a conveyor in a coupled manner.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the finishing device comprises an arm which is so provided as to perform an arcuate motion with a wire cage roller or metal roller held thereon.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said centering means comprises first and second hydraulic cylinders for axially moving said first and second axially movable members.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said foot forming means comprises a hydraulic cylinder, a cutting edge holder arm interlocked with said cylinder and a foot forming tool mounted on said holder arm.

7. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said rim forming means comprises a hydraulic cylinder, a cutting edge holder arm interlocked with said cylinder and a rim scraping member mounted on said holder arm.

8. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said base member comprises a turntable and said spindles are circumferentially and rotatably mounted thereon.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said centering means comprises first and second hydraulic cylinders for axially moving said first and second axially movable members.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said foot forming means comprises a hydraulic cylinder, a cutting edge holder arm interlocked with said cylinder and a foot forming tool mounted on said holder arm.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said rim forming means comprises a hydraulic cylinder, a cutting edge holder arm interlocked with said cylinder and a rim scraping member mounted on said holder arm.

12. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the finishing device comprises an arm which is so provided as to perform an arcuate motion with a wire cage roller or metal roller held thereon. 

1. An apparatus for forming and finishing ceramic ware articles, comprising: an intermittently driven base member; a plurality of rotatable spindles mounted on said base member at spaced-apart intervals; a support member mounted on each spindle for supporting an interior surface portion of a workpiece mounted thereon; a flexible plate mounted on each spindle in cooperation with said support member, said plate engaging the interior surface portion of a mounted workpiece to form an airtight seal therewith; centering means, including first and second oppositely, axially movable members engaging opposite end portions of a mounted workpiece, for centering said mounted workpiece axially on said support member relative to the axis of rotation of said spindle; means for reducing the pressure in the interior of a mounted workpiece to create a partial vacuum for holding said workpiece in secure engagement with said support member; and means for moving a workpiece securely mounted on said support member to a plurality of work stations for forming and finishing said workpiece.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: foot forming means mounted on said apparatus at a first work station for forming a foot portion of said securely mounted workpiece; rim forming means mounted on said apparatus at said first work station for forming a rim portion of said secUrely mounted workpiece; finishing means mounted on said apparatus at a subsequent work station for finishing the formed foot and rim portions of said securely mounted workpiece; and means for intermittently moving said securely mounted workpiece to and past said first and subsequent work stations.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said spindles are arranged and provided on a conveyor in a coupled manner.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the finishing device comprises an arm which is so provided as to perform an arcuate motion with a wire cage roller or metal roller held thereon.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said centering means comprises first and second hydraulic cylinders for axially moving said first and second axially movable members.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said foot forming means comprises a hydraulic cylinder, a cutting edge holder arm interlocked with said cylinder and a foot forming tool mounted on said holder arm.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said rim forming means comprises a hydraulic cylinder, a cutting edge holder arm interlocked with said cylinder and a rim scraping member mounted on said holder arm.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said base member comprises a turntable and said spindles are circumferentially and rotatably mounted thereon.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said centering means comprises first and second hydraulic cylinders for axially moving said first and second axially movable members.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said foot forming means comprises a hydraulic cylinder, a cutting edge holder arm interlocked with said cylinder and a foot forming tool mounted on said holder arm.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said rim forming means comprises a hydraulic cylinder, a cutting edge holder arm interlocked with said cylinder and a rim scraping member mounted on said holder arm.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the finishing device comprises an arm which is so provided as to perform an arcuate motion with a wire cage roller or metal roller held thereon. 